Healthy Living Tip #12: Stop Buying “Smart” Stuff You Don’t Need

Posted on September 6, 2017

Written by R Blank

“Did you know they just came out with this awesome smart [watch/fitness tracker/thermostat/pet bowl/fill-in-the-blank]?” Given how frequently new technology is being released nowadays, I hear that statement at least once a month. And some of these devices are so cool, that it can be easy to ignore the risks of smart homes.

What Are the Risks of Smart Homes?

At first, I didn’t question it. Smartphones are awesome. My friends love their FitBits. People rave about their Nest thermostats. And I have to confess that, as a dog owner, I’m in love with my Roomba. I wonder what else they’ll think of!

Eventually, though, I began to question when enough would be, well… enough.

New technology is being developed and released commercially to the public at such a fast rate that there are entire media outlets online devoted solely to the coverage of these new tech releases.

But what about the hidden dangers and risks of smart homes and smart tech? It can be easy to ignore, but the fact is that each and every one of these new “smart” devices emits EMF radiation. Not to mention, the blue light emitted from all of these screens that increasingly surround us can throw off our internal clock and negatively affect the quality of our sleep.3

The health risks of smart technology are real and well-documented (see here1, here2, and here3 for just a few examples), but unfortunately, most people still aren’t aware of them. So people continue amassing new wireless devices that increase their EMF exposure. We’re getting to the point where folks are being radiated from multiple sources, 24/7. There is no escape.

Be Smart: Why You Need to Buy and Use Consciously

With the health risks of smart homes and other wireless technology, and the ever-expanding definition of a “smart home” growing by the day, now more than ever you need to be smart (actually smart, not tech-smart) about what you buy and how you use your electronic devices.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to look at your life and determine whether the benefit of that shiny new gadget is worth the incremental risk it represents to your health.

So, ask yourself these 3 questions to get smart about your smart devices:

1. Do I really need this?

When considering buying a new device, it’s easy to get swept up in the thought of all the cool things you’ll be able to do if you buy it. But we often don’t stop to ask ourselves: Do I really need this?

Will this device change my life considerably? Or will it just be a toy that’s fun for a little bit. Be careful to not get swept up in the moment and become blindsided to the risk just because you want another shiny device.

Remember, anything you don’t have is alluring, but once you’ve had it for a little while the luster can wear off.

2. Is it worth the risk?

Each additional smart device you buy comes with a cost to your health. The more EMF you are exposed to, the more likely you are to experience negative health effects that are linked to EMF exposure.

So, you need to ask yourself each time you consider buying or using a device: Is it worth the risk?

Take a bit to consider the risks inherent in over-using technology and, if you can’t answer yes, consider putting it down and adopting a healthier course of action.

3. Will this make me happier?

This particularly has to do with buying a new device, but it also has to do with your regular use as well. Perhaps the most important question of all is simply: Will this make me happier?

Sure, some devices make our lives easier. However, it’s important to remember that, in most cases, we were living just fine without it before we had it.

Don’t get caught up thinking you need or must have something just because it’s the latest gadget. Ask yourself the most important question of all and get clarity on what is really important.

By answering specific questions such as these, it will help you get down to what really matters and get smarter about your use of technology.

The Risks of Smart Homes are Real

The risks of smart homes and new EMF-emitting devices are real, but new technology won’t stop being developed anytime soon.

It’s your life, so it’s up to you to make the smart choice. So think about it: do you really need that new “smart” device? What’s it worth to your health risk?

I have been turning my wireless wifi router off at night and my smart devices such as nest protect, mysa thermostats, Alexa and teckin smart plugs blink all night or send me emails every night advising that they were disconnected.

I am curious to know how often these devices are trying to connect to my router, and how the power consumption and emf produced compares vs when the units are connected to wifi and sitting in standby mode.

Great question. The answer is, it will depend on the device. There is no standard for how this is handled, so it’s up to the product manufacturer to decide how it wants its device to behave when there is no signal, or even a weak signal.

What’s worse, this information is almost never included in the manual, and if you call customer support they won’t know either.

[…] That’s why, for example, we recommend turning off your wifi router at night, and putting your phone into airplane mode when it’s not in use, and not buying “smart” stuff you don’t actually need. […]

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